Aussie Phoebe Tonkin hopes latest role on Safe Harbour leads to more roles at home

The Daily TelegraphMarch 13, 2018 7:00PM

AUSSIE actor Phoebe Tonkin says she fought really hard to land a role in SBS’s Safe Harbour, hoping it might be the role to finally bring her home for good.

The 28-year-old, who has been in the US since 2012 filming The Vampire Diaries and its spin-off the Originals, said she was secretly hoping she would book a job in the 10 days she was here so she “wouldn’t have to get back on the plane”.

“I started on a kids’ television show in Australia so I did feel like I was being pigeonholed a little bit as that type of actor,” Tonkin told Confidential, “so it was really nice to dig my teeth into something really grounded and high-end like Safe Harbour is, and to be able to do it at home as well was a great opportunity.

“I really fought to be part of this, it was really hard to prove to people that I was capable.”

Camera IconTonkin in Safe Harbour alongside Joel Jackson.Picture: SBS, Supplied/SBSCamera IconShe has been in the States filming hit series The Vampire Diaries and the spin-off The Originals.Picture: Supplied

Tonkin, who got her start on the children’s television series H2O: Just Add Water, is hoping the drama leads to other opportunities in Australia.

“I just think the standard of work here is so high and there are so many incredible Australian filmmakers and actors here, but I would of course love to stay here.”